Critical Thinking in the Science Classroom

Chemistry is one of those subjects that can be complicated to the point of frustration. There are so many factors that go into one problem; you can use complex formulas, mathematics, even the Table of Elements all in one solution. There are many students out there who strive to think critically about the subject but need a little extra help in the classroom. 

That is where Michael Michels and Angela Manzi come in. The Indian Hills High School teachers have published a series of science workbooks geared toward critical thinking. The books aim to allow students to expand their current learning into higher-level thinking through open-ended questioning.

"Each chapter revolves around a topic of chemistry. The questions elicit in-depth responses from the students," Michels said. 

"Higher-Level Thinking Questions: Chemistry" is aimed at secondary students, encouraging them to use their creativity, past experiences and knowledge to come up with original answers to each question asked. 

"There are no 'yes' or 'no' answers to any of the questions, and there are no wrong answers," Michels said.

The line of science workbooks provides students with an opportunity to apply their knowledge of chemistry to real-world settings and to think more critically about the world around them.

Michels and Manzi were inspired to start publishing after many years of struggling with few available options for ready-made activity books. When they met Dr. Spencer Kagan of Kagan Cooperative Learning, they struck up an idea to develop activities that teachers could use in a high school setting. 

There are three titles available to the public through Kagan Publishing and Amazon. "Cooperative Learning and Science: High School Activities," "Higher-Level Thinking Questions: Biology," and "Higher-Level Thinking Questions: Chemistry." All three workbooks include a variety of active learning skills to develop young minds. 

 "The book is intended to make students think and analyze… it also provides strategies to promote higher-level thinking and active engagement in the chemistry classroom," Michels said. 

"Our favorite part about teaching are the moments in your classroom where the kids are learning and having fun; you can see them thinking—the wheels are spinning and then, they question!"  

Together, Michels and Manzi have been able to develop a new way to engage students in the classroom. "Writing together is an opportunity to make your own ideas better. To get the chance to hear another teacher's insight on the same subject and to hear an idea that you had never thought of is really rewarding," Michels said. 

The pair also plan to develop a new workbook in the future dealing with environmental issues.

Michels said, "The green industry and the environmental movement is at an all-time high and needs to be addressed in science classrooms around the world."